Aerosol cap and button



Oct. 15, 1963 P. o. SANBORN AEROSOL CAP AND BUTTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed 0ct. 27, 1960 Fig. 2

INVENTOR. PHILLIP D. SANBORN W WWW 72 11 @M/ Oct. 15, 1963 P. D. SANBORN3,107,033

AEROSOL CAP AND BUTTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 27. 1960 IN VEN TOR.

Afiorn eys PHILLIP D. SANBORN m www tits in a suitable aperture providedin the cap.

United States Patent 3,107,033 AEROSOL CAP AND BUTTON Philip 1).Sanborn, 367 Park Ave., Chardon, Ohio Filed Oct. 27, 1960, Set. N0.65,514 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-41 This invention pertains to materialdispensers and more particularly to that type of pressurized dispensersknown as aerosol cans.

In recent years so called aerosol cans have become widely known and havefound wide application. These cans usually have a valve with anactuating mechanism at the top of the can. For shipping purposes and forprotection against accidental use it is desirable to provide aprotectivecap which shields the valve actuating mechanism.

In the past these caps have taken a wide variety of forms made out ofeither plastic or metal. The present invention is primarily directed toa plastic cap.

Prior proposals for caps for aerosol cans have customarily provided somedome-like member which is selectively and removably secured to the topof the can. The cap must be removed before the device can be used.

Removable caps have several inherent disadvantages. They are easilylost. They are easily damaged, especially if they accidentally fall offthe can. They are also susceptible to fatigue, especially if made ofplastic. After repeated removal and return they tend to become veryinsecure in their attachment and because of this insecurity highlysusceptible to loss and damage.

For these reasons the present invention has as one of its principalobjects the provision of an aerosol cap which is permanently connectedto the can and which at the same time shields the valve mechanism whilepermitting facile valve operation.

With previous valve actuating mechanisms discernment of the direction ofthe vapor emitting port of the valve is not always an automatic thing tothe causal observer. It is quite a simple matter to spray oneself withthe liquid because the port is directed in the wrong direction.

For these reasons another object of the invention is to provide a capfor an aerosol can, which cap is equipped with a finger receiving recessshaped to a contour which causes the operator to automatically properlygrasp the can prior to valve actuation.

To facilitate this assurance of directing the fluid in the properdirection an actuation button is provided for the usual valve actuatingmember. This button becomes a permanent part of the actuating mem er.The button In the preferred arrangement the actuation button and the caprecess are both shaped in the form of an arrow pointing in the directionof the dispensing port.

It is then, an additional object of this invention to provide anauxiliary, or integrally formed, valve actuating member in the shape ofan arrow to indicate the direction of liquid dispensing.

With previous valve actuating members the member is often so shaped andpositioned that an emitted stream of fluid will strike a lip of thecontainer cover which surrounds the valve member creating an undesirablefluid collection on the top of can and wasting the dispensed fluid. Withthe present invention this previous disadvan- BJWLdBB Patented Got. 15,1953 "ice tage is overcome through the provision of a raised tab formedrearwardly at the top of the valve member cover. Depression of thebutton will cause simultaneous valve opening and rearward tilting of thebutton so that the emitted spray always is directed upwardly to miss thecan and cover.

This free dispersion of liquid is further facilitated by shaping thefinger-receiving recess formed in the cap so that it flares outwardlyand downwardly toward the front of the cap.

For these reasons another object of the invention is 1 to provide anovel and improved cap and valve actuating member for an aerosol canwhich assures proper dispersion of a liquid stream without striking anypor tion of the dispensing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved capand valve actuating button which are easily and permanently connectibleto an aerosol can and which are so designed and constructed to bereadily connected to standard styles of production aerosol cans.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cover of a valveactuating button which cover is formed of a material that is harder thanthe stem member and which cover includes inwardly directed ribs whichbite into the surface of the stem member to rigidly connect the twotogether and maintain the outlet port in aligned relationship with adispensing arch formed in the cover.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cap and valveactuating button which is connected together tor free relative axialmovement and in a manner which provides relative rotative movement sothat rotation of one will cause rotation of the other to maintain thetwo in a properly indexed relationship.

A more special object of the invention is to provide an aerosol cap withthe previously described finger recess formed in the shape of a segmentof a cone to strengthen the cap and thereby provide an extremely strongand rigid plastic cap made with a minimum of material.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims taken in conjunctionwith the acompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational exploded View partially in section of apressurized container, a cap, and valve ctuation button;

FIGURE 2 is a foreshortened front elevational view of the top of apressurized container with the cap and actuation button in place;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a pressurized container with the cap andvalve actuation button in place;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale with respect toFIGURES 1 through 3 through the cap and valve actuation button and aportion of the vessel showing the actuation position of the button inphantom;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale with respectto FIGURES 1 through 4 of the valve actuation button cover portion; and

FIGURE 6 is a top view on the scale of FIGURE 5 of the valve actuationbutton cover portion.

Refer-ring now to the drawings, a pressurized container is designatedgenerally at it). The pressurized container includes a materialcontaining vessel 11 and a valve mechanism 15. The valve mechanism 15includes the 11 when in its closed position.

usual dip tube 18. The tube extends into the vessel 11 to conduct thematerial to an outlet.

The valve mechanism 15 has a valve actuation button 16 which projectsabove the top of the vessel 11. The actuation button includes thementioned outlet in the form of a material discharge port 17. Thedischarge port 17 is oriented about normal to the axis of the vessel Thebutton also includes an axially disposed passage 19 which connects thedip tube 18 with the discharge port 17.

If desired the button 16 may be a unitary structure. To facilitate readymodification of presently available commercial structures the preferredand disclosed embodiment includes a stem portion 20 and cover portion21. The cover portion 21 is formed separately from the stem portion 20preferably of a high density polyethylene. The stem portion 20 ispreferably low density polyethylene. The cover portion 21, as is bestseen in FIGURES and 6, includes a stern receiving slot 22 which fitsover the stem portion 20. The cover portion 21 is formed with aplurality of axially extending ribs 24 projecting into the stemreceiving slot. The high density polyethylene ribs 24 on the coverportion dig into the low density polyethylene stem portion to fix thetwo together and provide, in effect, a unitary structure.

The cover portion 21 has a discharge arch 23. The arch is positionedaround the discharge port 17 to provide communication between the port17 and the atmosphere.

The top of the valve actuation button 16 is formed in the shape of anarrowhead, designated generally by the number 28. The arrowhead 28 isoriented to point in the direction of discharge from the dispensing port17. With such an arrangement the direction of discharge from thedispensing port 17 is quickly and easily discernible, and thepossibility of a user orienting the dispensing port 17 in the wrongdirection is greatly reduced, and in most cases eliminated by a cursoryglance at the button.

The valve actuation button 16 has a finger tab 29 formed on its top. Thefinger tab projects above the surface of the arrowhead 28 and is spacedfrom the axis of the button 16 and from the point of the arrow. As thuspositioned a pressure on the finger tab 29 will cause the button 16 tomove both reciprocally along its axis and at the same time tilt slightlybackwards raising the angle of the discharge port with respect to aplane normal to the axis of the body 11. The reason for such tiltingwill be described presently.

The actuation button 16 of the valve mechanism is constructed to permitan aerosol discharge from the port upon its downward reciprocal movementand associated tilting movement. The tilting movement is provided by theinherent resiliency of a portion of the valve assembly. Since the fingertab 29 is spaced from the axis of the valve mechanism, pressure on thetab will cause both axial and tilting movement. The actuation buttonwith the discharge end moved axially and tilted is shown in phantom inFIGURE 4.

The container is provided with a cap 30, preferably formed of highdensity polyethylene. The cap 30 includes an annular locking flange 32which engages an annular shoulder 31 formed on the vessel 11, FIGURES land 4. The cap 30 also includes an annular bottom rim 33 which isloosely positioned in an annular recess in the cover of the container10, FIGURE 4. The cap 30 is forced into locked engagement with the body10 by exerting a force on the cap 30 to cause resilient deformationaround the area of the flange 32. The flange 32 snaps into lockingengagement with the annular shoulder 31. As thus positioned, the cap 30can rotate a full 360 but is constrained from axial movement.

A through aperture 34 is formed in the cap 30 and the actuation button16 projects through it. The aperture 34 is shaped to the configurationof the button 20. Thus, with the arrow-shaped button 20 the cap has anarrow shaped hole designed to coact with the button and prevent rotationbetween the tWo to maintain the two properly oriented.

The cap 30 has a generally frustoconically shaped finger recess 35. Therecess 35 is positioned such that the walls 36 defining the recess 35shield the valve actuation button 16 and project higher than the top ofthe button. The recess 35 extends from a rounded backwall 37 to anangular frontwall 38 and is outwardly and downwardly flaring generallyin the direction that the dispensing port 17 is oriented.

Thus the cap provides protection against discharge by unintentional oraccidental actuation of the valve mechanism. Yet, while affording thisprotection the dispensing button is readily available for intentionaluse. No cover need be removed to ready the container for use.

Another outstanding feature of this invention is that the cap 36provides a natural and normal grasping position for the discharge of thematerial in the container in the intended direction. The roundedbackwall 37 forms a smooth and natural feeling finger rest on which thefinger of the user normally rests with comfort and ease. On the otherhand, the angled front wall 38 and the outwardly and downwardly flaringrecess at that end provides an awkward and uncomfortable grippingposition for the finger of the user to actuate the mechanism. Thenatural tendency of the user, when grasping the container, will be tograsp it such that the finger enters the recess 35 near the roundedbackwall 37 and rests in the recess while the tip of the finger rests onthe finger tab 29. As thus grasped, the dispensing port 17 is orientedaway from the hand of the user with the arrow 38 pointing away from thehand of the user and indicating such a direction of discharge. The userwill then spray in the intended direction, and not in his own face.

Additionally, this construction of the cap produces a very strongstructure. The recess provides, in effect, a reinforcing rib whichresists breaking and cracking of the cap.

As Was described above, pressure on the finger tab 29 will cause theactuation button 16 of the valve mechanism 15 to move reciprocally alongits own axis and also tilt the dispensing port 17 to an angle with aplane normal to the axis of the vessel 11. The material being dischargedthrough the dispensing port 17 will be dispensed in generally acone-shaped configuration. The tilting of the button 16 directs thiscone-shaped configuration of dispensed material away from the cap 30 orother part of the pressurized container. Because of the outwardly anddownwardly flaring, frusto-conically cone-shaped configuration of thecap 30 and the tilting of the button 16, the dispensed material from thepressurized container will not impinge against the cap 30 and be lostfrom its intended use.

As thus formed, a pressurized container is provided which has a valvemechanism and cap which readily and naturally tends to prevent operatorerror in spraying and in which the dispensing end of the valve mechanismis V protected against accidental discharge.

Although the invention has been described with a great deal ofparticularity, it is believed that it essentially comprises apressurized container having a valve actuator mechanism which movesaxially and tiltably into a discharge position and which mechanism isformed with a visual indicator to quickly indicate the direction ofdischarge, and in which the valve mechanism is partially enclosed in acap which protects the valve from accidental actuation and permits anunrestricted dispensing of the material from the container.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred vform has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A pressurized container comprising, a material containing vessel, amaterial dispensing valve assembly in communication with the interior ofsaid vessel, said valve assembly having a resilient portion and anactuation button above the portion, said button projecting from the topof said vessel, said button including a discharge port orientedsubstantially transversely to the axis of the valve assembly, said valvemechanism being reciprocally movable along its axis, said buttonincluding a finger tab, said finger tab being spaced from the axis ofsaid valve assembly, said finger tab including a surface on a side ofthe axis of the valve assembly remote from the discharge port, and a capcarried by said vessel, said cap having a finger recess formed thereinand surrounding said actuator button, said button and said dischargeport being disposed above the surrounding bottom portions of saidrecess, said recess flaring generally outwardly and downwardly in thedirection of orientation of the discharge port, said cap and said buttonbeing formed with cooperating surfaces which prevent relative rotationso as to maintain said discharge port of said button in said directionof orientation, said cap including an endless side wall, said recessextending centrally across the top of said cap and intersecting saidside wall, said valve assembly being actuatable upon reciprocal andtilting movement of said button whereby when a force is applied to saidfinger tab said actuation button assembly moves axially and tilts todispense material from the vessel.

2. in combination with a pressurized container having an actuating stemprojecting therefrom and an outlet opening, a cover for said stemcomprising:

(a) a molded one piece member having walls defining a longitudinallydisposed bore extending from the bottom of the cover to a terminationspaced from the top thereof;

(b) said cover having a transverse opening extending through said walland communicating with the bore;

(a) said stem being telescoped into the bore and the openings beingaligned and in communication with one another; and

(d) said cover including means maintaining the cover telescoped over thestem and locking said cover and stem against relative movement.

3. In combination with a pressurized container having an actuating stemprojecting therefrom and an outlet opening, a cover for said stemcomprising:

(a) a molded one piece member having side walls and a top Wall defininga longitudinally disposed bore extending from the bottom of the cover toa termination spaced from the top thereof;

(b) said cover having a transverse opening extending through said sidewalls and communicating with the bore;

() said stem being telescoped into the bore and the openings beingaligned and in communication with one another;

(d) said side walls including a plurality of longitudinally extendingcircumferentially spaced teeth projecting inwardly and engaging saidstem whereby to maintain the stem and cover telescoped together toprevent relative movement; and

(e) a finger tab projecting above said top wall,

(i) said finger tab being laterally offset from the longitudinal axis ofsaid stem.

4. In combination, a pressure container including a dip tube, a buttonstem on one end of said dip tube above said container, said stem havinga transverse outlet opening, and a button cover for said stem, saidcover comprising a molded one-piece member having side walls and a topwall, said side walls and top wall defining a cavity substantially theshape being disposed in said cavity, said side walls having an arch-likeopening terminating below said top wall, said arch-like opening beingpositioned around said outlet opening, said cover including meanslocking said cover and said stem against relative movement, and a fingertab projecting above said top wall, said tab being olfset laterally fromthe longitudinal axis of said stem and at the edge of said coveropposite said arch-like opening. 5. The combination as claimed in claim4 wherein said cover has an arrow-shaped configuration, the point ofsaid arrow-shaped configuration being located over said arch-likeopening.

6. A pressurized container comprising:

(a) a vessel;

(1)) a valve assembly,

(0) said valve assembly including t3. stem projecting above said vesseland having a transverse discharge outlet,

(d) a one-piece cover surrounding said stem,

(e) said cover including means locking said cover and stem againstrelative movement,

(1) said cover having a side opening registering with said dischargeoutlet,

(g) a finger tab on the top of said cover oil-set laterally from thelongitudinal axis of said stem; and,

(h) a cap for said container,

(i) said cap including an endless tubular side wall projecting upwardlyfrom the top of said container in axial alignment therewith,

(j) connection means attached to said side wall and securing said cap tothe container while permitting relative rotation thereof,

(k) a top wall peripherally connected to said side wall including anelongated recess extending thereacross,

(I) means within said cap defining an axially disposed openingcommunicating with said recess,

(In) said one-piece cover and stem extending through said axiallydisposed opening so that said discharge outlet is above the bottom ofsaid recess,

(n) said recess being disposed generally symmetrically about a planelocated by the axis of said outlet and the container axis such that saidrecess extends from a front intersection to a back intersection withsaid tubular side wall,

(0) said recess flaring upwardly on either side of said plane above saidcover,

(p) said recess being canted with respect to the container and cap axisso that one of said intersections is closer to said container top thanthe other and so that said front intersection' is below said backintersection; and,

(q) said cap and said cover including coacting surfaces preventingrelative rotation while permitting relative reciprocation.

7. A pressurized container comprising:

(a) a vessel;

(b) a valve assembly,

(c) said valve assembly including a stem projecting above said vesseland having a transverse discharge outlet,

(d) a cover in surrounding engagement with said stem,

(e) said cover having a side opening registering with said dischargeoutlet; and

(f) :a cap for said container,

(g) said cap including an endless tubular side wall projecting upwardlyfrom the top of said container 1n axial alignment therewith,

(h) a top wall peripherally connected to said side wall and including anelongated recess extending thereacross,

(z') said recess being disposed generally symmetrically about a planelocated by the axis of said outlet and the container axis and extendingfrom a front of said stem, said stem 7 intersection to a backintersection with said tubular side Wall,

(j) said recess flaring upwardly on either side of said plane,

(k) said recess being canted With respect to the container and cap axisso that one of said intersections is closer to said container top thanthe other and so that said front intersection is below said backintersection; and,

(I) said top Wall of said cap having an aperture through the bottom ofsaid recess,

(m) said cover and said stern extending through said aperture above thesurrounding bottom portions of said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGreenwood May 2, Tuttle et a1. Dec. 4, Fooshee Nov. 10, Both et a1. Aug.7, Poarch et a1. Dec. 4, Davis et a1. Oct. 29, Softer et a1 Apr. 22, St.Germain Apr. 14, Anderson et a1. May 19, Sagarin Oct. 31, Hibbs et. a1Oct. 16,

1. A PRESSURIZED CONTAINER COMPRISING, A MATERIAL CONTAINING VESSEL, AMATERIAL DISPENSING VALVE ASSEMBLY IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OFSAID VESSEL, SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY HAVING A RESILIENT PORTION AND ANACTUATION BUTTON ABOVE THE PORTION, SAID BUTTON PROJECTING FROM THE TOPOF SAID VESSEL, SAID BUTTON INCLUDING A DISCHARGE PORT ORIENTEDSUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE ASSEMBLY, SAID VALVEMECHANISM BEING RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE ALONG ITS AXIS, SAID BUTTOMINCLUDING A FINGER TAB, SAID FINGER TAB BEING SPACED FROM THE AXIS OFSAID VALVE ASSEMBLY, SAID FINGER TAB INCUDING A SURFACE ON A SIDE OF THEAXIS OF THE VALVE ASSEMBLY REMOTE FROM THE DISCHARGE PORT, AND A CAPCARRIED BY SAID VESSEL, SAID CAP HAVING A FINGER RECESS FORMED THEREINAND SURROUNDING SAID ACTUATOR BUTTON, SAID BUTTON AND SAID DISCHARGEPORT BEING DISPOSED ABOVE THE SURROUNDING BOTTOM PORTIONS OF SAIDRECESS, SAID RECESS FLARING GENERALLY OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY IN THEDIRECTION OF ORIENTATION OF THE DISCHARGE PORT, SAID CAP AND SAID BUTTONBEING FORMED WITH COOPERATING SURFACES WHICH PREVENT RELATIVE ROTATIONSO AS TO MAINTAIN SAID DISCHARGE PORT OF SAID BUTTON IN SAID DIRECTIONOF ORIENTATION, SAID CAP INCLUDING AN ENDLESS SIDE WALL, SAID RECESSEXTENDING CENTRALLY ACROSS THE TOP OF SAID CAP AND INTERSECTING SAIDSIDE WALL, SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY BEING ACTUATABLE UPON RECIPROCAL ANDTILTING MOVEMENT OF SAID BUTTON WHEREBY WHEN A FORCE IS APPLIED TO SAIDFINGER TAB SAID ACTUATION BUTTON ASSEMBLY MOVES AXIALLY AND TILTS TODISPENSE MATERIAL FROM THE VESSEL.